Department of Justice Tribal Access Program Will Continue to
Improve the Exchange of Critical Data
The Department of Justice is expanding the Tribal Access
Program (TAP) for National Crime Information which provides
federally-recognized tribes access to national crime information databases for
both civil and criminal purposes. Tribes
interested in participating in TAP must submit a letter or resolution from the
tribe’s governing body by Dec. 2. TAP
allows tribes to more effectively serve and protect their communities by
ensuring the exchange of critical data.
In the fall of 2015, the Department of Justice selected
tribes to participate in the initial User Feedback Phase of TAP. This partnership focused on testing the
department’s technology solution and training support; it also enabled tribes
to identify and share best practices regarding the use of national crime
information databases to strengthen public safety.
During 2016, participating tribes received a kiosk
workstation that provided access to national systems as well as training to
support whole-of-government needs. User
Feedback Phase tribes have elected to implement TAP in a variety of criminal
and civil agencies. Those tribal
criminal agencies included law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, criminal
courts, jails and probation departments.
The tribal civil agencies and programs that were eligible to use TAP
included agencies whose staff and volunteers have contact with or control over
Indian children; public housing agencies; child support enforcement agencies;
head start programs; civil agencies that investigate allegations of abuse, neglect
and exploitation of children; civil courts that issue orders of protection,
restraining orders, or other keep away orders; and sex offender registration
programs.
“Sharing crime information helps police solve crimes and
fosters better cooperation between tribal, federal, state and local law
enforcement,” said Director Tracy Toulou for the department’s Office of Tribal
Justice. “This expansion is another step
forward in the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the ability
of tribal institutions to keep communities safe. For example, tribal court orders of
protection entered into this system will be accessible to law enforcement
nationwide and help safeguard victims of domestic violence.”
“TAP showcases how a blend of Indian Country policy experts,
technology specialists, and law enforcement experts working in partnership with
native communities can have a direct and positive impact on the daily lives of
people in Indian Country,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief
Information Officer Joseph Klimavicz for the department’s Justice Management
Division. “It is my hope that the
development of a comprehensive solution to the issue of tribes’ long-standing
inability to access national crime information databases breaks an impasse that
was putting communities at risk.”
The department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing
Services (COPS) and the
Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending,
Registering, and Tracking (SMART) are each providing $1 million in funding for
the expansion, which will be used for approximately 10 kiosks.
“Access to data is an integral part of building trust
between tribal law enforcement agencies, the federal government, and tribal
communities,” said Director Ronald Davis of the
COPS Office. “The COPS Office is proud to continue its support of the
Tribal Access Program, which provides public safety agencies serving tribal
populations the access to critical information databases that can help keep
their communities safe.”
“The SMART Office is proud to contribute a million dollars
to this effort, for the second straight year,” said Director Luis C. deBaca for
the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering,
and Tracking. “Access to federal justice
information systems is critical to public safety in tribal communities, as they
work to combat sexual violence and build registration and notification
programs.”
TAP enhances tribal efforts to register sex offenders
pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA); have
orders of protection enforced off-reservation; protect children; keep firearms
away from persons who are disqualified from receiving them; improve the safety
of public housing, and allow tribes to enter their arrests and convictions into
national databases.
TAP supports tribes in analyzing their needs for national
crime information and includes appropriate solutions, including
a-state-of-the-art biometric/biographic kiosk workstation with capabilities to
process finger and palm prints, take mugshots and submit records to national
databases, as well as the ability to access Criminal Justice Information
Services (CJIS) systems for criminal and civil purposes through the Department
of Justice’s Criminal Justice Information Network. TAP, which is managed by the department’s
Chief Information Officer, provides specialized training and assistance for
participating tribes, including computer-based training and on-site
instruction, as well as a 24/7 Help Desk.
Eligibility Criteria For Interested Tribes
Because of the success of the User Feedback Phase, the
department is expanding TAP. Tribes who
have either an Adam Walsh Act Sex Offender Registry, or a tribal law
enforcement agency which is not a federal Bureau of Indian Affairs police department,
are eligible to participate in TAP. The
pertinent dates for the next phase of TAP:
Expression of
Interest Submission: Oct. 24 - Dec. 2
Notification of
Selection: Dec. 16
Onboarding and
Vetting: Jan. 9, 2017 - May 31, 2017
Deployment: May 9
- Sept. 29, 2017
Federally recognized tribes interested in participating in
TAP must submit a letter or resolution from the tribe’s governing body. That document should include:
Name and contact
information of a senior tribal executive who will act as the primary TAP point
of contact. This individual must have
authority to ensure coordination of TAP across various tribal agencies,
departments and offices. An alternate
point of contact must also be named.
A statement acknowledging
that misuse or non-use may result in TAP access being discontinued.
Language affirming
the tribe’s agreement to:
Make
whole-of-government legislative and policy determinations which provide
guidance to tribal agencies about how national crime information databases are
used, including what tribal data is entered into those systems.
Use TAP to close
gaps related to access to national crime information databases if that was an
impediment to the implementation of SORNA.
This must be accomplished within one year of deployment.
Execute a
Memorandum of Agreement with FBI CJIS and pay the standard national user fees
associated with fingerprint-based for noncriminal justice (civil) purposes.
Provide necessary
documentation and establish appropriate policies during the onboarding and
vetting time period.
Ensure users of
TAP establish appropriate accounts, take required training, background checks,
and obtain necessary certification during the onboarding and vetting time
period.
Ensure users of
TAP participate in deployment day training during the deployment time period.
Comply with and
adhere to auditing and policy requirements as well as all personnel, physical,
and technical security requirements.
Provide high-speed
Internet access to the kiosk.
The letter or resolution from the tribe’s governing body
must be sent to TAP.App@usdoj.gov
Email links icon
no later than midnight eastern time, Dec. 2.
For more information about the Justice Department’s work on
tribal justice and public safety issues, visit: www.justice.gov/tribal.
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